Light clay (also light straw clay, light clay straw, slipstraw) is a natural building material used to infill between a wooden frame in a timber framed building using a combination of clay and straw, woodchips or some other lighter material.
History
editA mixture of clay and straw was used as an infill material for timber framed building from at least the 12th century in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.[1] The term "light clay" or "light straw-clay" derives from the German name Leichtlehmbau 'light clay construction'.[2] Renewed interest in traditional building methods developed from the 1980s after which various natural building architects and builders started promoting the use of light clay.[3] An appendix for light straw-clay was added to the International Residential Code beginning with the 2015 edition.[4]
Usage
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Local clay, often local subsoil, is mixed into a slurry with water and then combined with straw or wood chip or other similar material. Wood chips can vary in size from sawdust to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in diameter.[3] The ratio of clay to other ingredients can be adapted to either increase thermal mass or insulation properties.[5] The mixture is provided with additional structural strength using wattles. When used externally it can be protected with a Lime render or a clay render.[6] A plaster or render yields a smooth, finished appearance.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Andresen, Frank. "An Introduction to Traditional and Modern German Clay Building". Natural Building Colloquium Southwest. NetWorks Productions.
Building with clay has a long tradition in Germany and other European countries. Framed structures (half-timbered houses) from the 12th century, filled with a mixture of clay and straw fibers, still exist.
- ^ Doleman, Lydia (June 22, 2017). Essential Light Straw Clay Construction. New Society Publishers. ISBN 978-0865718432.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Joseph F.; Wanek, Catherine; Smith, Michael G. (2002). The art of natural building: design, construction, resources. New Society Publishers. pp. 165–170. ISBN 978-0-86571-433-5.
- ^ Hammer, Martin (25 April 2017). "Update on Strawbale and Light Straw-Clay Codes in the United States". The Last Straw. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ Chiras, Daniel D. (2000). The natural house: a complete guide to healthy, energy-efficient. Chelsea Green Pub. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-890132-57-6.
- ^ "Earth in non-loadbearing walls". Dachverband Lehm [German Association for Building with Earth].